Wednesday, April 27, 2011

I just finished this little top a couple nights ago. It’s based on a pattern from a Japanese craft book and I think it’s pretty darn sweet! I think I’ll make a few more adjustments still, maybe add a ruffle here or there.. make it longer and turn it into a lovely summer dress..
Well then, let's just add Japanese Sewing Books to my list of obsessions!

So in addition to being obsessed with fabric, I've also developed a love for 'thrifting' (apparently not a real word but I'm using it anyways and I'm sure I'm not the first).
A fun day out for me would be to hit a fabric store and a couple thrift stores and roam around for great deals and inspiration. I generally look for things I can use for sewing: fabric remnants, lace and doilies, buttons... and clothing that can be re-worked into something lovely and modern. I love vintage mostly because, like handmade, it's getting pretty close to being one (or a few) of a kind.
Here's a vintage sheet I found at a thrift store last week. It was $5 and it's huge! I am envisioning sweet summer dresses..

Hello and welcome to my blog! Since the idea of a 'first post' just makes my head spin, I'm just going to ramble a bit about how I got here and why. A little background info on me and what I plan on doing with this space. So here goes..

I've always been a 'crafty' person. My mom was (and still is) an incredible seamstress as well as master knitter, so I've always been exposed to 'handmade'. I dabbled here and there.. making clothes for my Barbie dolls and cross-stitching at around 8 years old, home economics sewing classes in high school, sewing simple Christmas gifts for co-workers in my 20s... But now, in my 30s, as a mother of 2 toddlers (2 and almost 4), sewing and crafting have become something more than just making something with my own hands. It is a way for me to experiment, explore, challenge myself, and express myself creatively. It has become a sort of a meditation for me.

Of course, my kids were really the inspiration for me to start sewing again. When I was still pregnant with my first child, I felt a sudden urge to take up knitting and knit him a baby blanket. And when that was done, I decided to sew him a quilt. These were both 'firsts' for me. Although my technique was off and they both came out a little wonky, I was hooked.

When my second child was born, I began sewing more and more. Inspired by the unique, sweet little outfits and dresses I had seen on other blogs and online stores that I wasn't able to find locally, I decided to try my hand at sewing clothes for my kids.

So here I am today, obsessed with sewing, fabrics (new and vintage), kids' fashions and pretty much always thinking about what I could be making next, I have decided to take this hobby one step further and turn it into a business. As a stay-at-home mom for the past (almost) 4 years, I've been feeling the need to work again, but am not ready to stop being a full-time (at home) mom. Here's my attempt to blend both of these worlds and hopefully find a happy balance.

This blog will be a place for me to share all the latest news, adventures and happenings of Hello Rabbit, as well as a place to simply talk about life, parenthood, and of course, all things crafty.